Means for launching torpedoes from single-pontoon seaplanes



Aug. 26, 1930. v v. .1. BURNELLI 1,774,471

MEANS FOR LAUNCHING TORPEDOES FROM SINGLE PONTOON SEAPLANES 1 Filed Jan. so, 1928 5 Sheets sheet 1930. 7 v. .1. BURNELLI 1,774,471

MEANS FOR LAUNCHING TORPEDOES FROM SINGLE FONTOON SEAPLANES Filed Jan. 50, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 X gNVENTOR j i i ATTORNET Aug. 26, 1930. v J, BURNELL. 1,774,471

MEANS FOR LAUNGHING TORPEDOES FROM SINGLE PONTOON SEAPLANES Filed Jan. 30, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Au 2c, 1930 I VINCENT J'- IBURNELLI, OF NEW YORK, N.

CORPORATION, A. CORPORATION OF DELAWARE Y., ASSIG-N'OR TO THE UPPERCU-BURNELLI MEANS FOR LAUNCHING TORI'EDOES FROM SINGLE-PONTOON SEAPLANES Application filed June 30,

This invention relates to means for the launching of releasable loads, such as toredoes, bombs and thelike from seaplanes aving central flotation means, and my improvements are directed to the provision of supporting means for a torpedo or similar load located near the longitudinal centre of a seaplane at the underside of the fuselage, and permitting the torpedo orsimilar load 10 upon release to fall in a plane closely adjacent the side of the pontoon.

Obviously the central position of the pontoon precludes the direct drop of a torpedo or similar load from the precise longitudinal centre of the fuselage, and also, obviously, it is desirable that the load be carried as near as possible to the centre of gravity of the seaplane.

My invention is particularly adapted for the launching of torpedoes or like loads from seaplanes having a single pontoon and capable of launching from shipboard by a catapult, the principal object of the invention being to make provision for releasably supporting the torpedo or load as near as possible to the longitudinal centre of the fuselage so that said torpedo may fall when released in a direct line at one side of the pontoon.

Other features and advantages of my invention' will hereinafter appear;

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a partial front elevation of a seaplane equipped with my improved launching means in one form thereof.

Fig. 2 is a sideelevation of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a front view, partly in section, showing the .fuselage'and pontoon of a seaplane, with a modified form of the launching means.

Fig. 4 is a partial front elevation of a seaplane showing another modification of the launching means, wherein the pontoon is movable laterally to provide a clear drop for the load.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of Fig. 4:-

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail view. of the pontoon actuating means.

Fig. 7 is a partial front elevation of a 1928. Serial No. 250,452.

seaplane equipped with still another modified form of the launching means.

Fig. 8 is a side elevation of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged front sectional view partially broken away showing the fuselage and pontoon of a seaplane, showing launching means for torpedoes at opposite sides of the longitudinal centre, and

Fig. 10 is a detail plan view of the release means.

The torpedoes, bombs or similar instruments of attack for which my improved launching means have been devised are for convenience herein referred to generally as the load, itbeing understood that the objects thus referred to are cylindrical in form and adapted to be carried in and launched from a horizontal position, lengthwise of the fuselage.

Thus, in the form of my invention appearing in Figs. 1 and 2 I have shown a seaplane having the wings 1, fuselage 2 and pontoon 3, said pontoon'being connected by groove 5, and also usual means, not appearing in Fig. 1, are employed to disengage the straps, thus ermitting the torpedo to fall.

. The line of ight of the torpedo in falling closely parallels the side of the fuselage, the torpedo meeting with no obstruction to deflect'its course, while at the same time the groove 5 is so nearly adjacent the fuselage side, or the vertical plane thereof that it houses the torpedo in a position distanced only negligibly from the longitudinal centre of the seaplane. Therefore the slight overbalance created by the presence in or absence from the groove 5 of the torpedo is such as is easily compensated by operation of the controls in trimming ship. Another groove 5*, housing torpedo 6*, both appearing in dotted lines, may be provided at the other side of the fuselage.

' said struts are in In the modification of Fig. 3 will be. seen the fuselage 8 and pontoon 9 of a seaplane, the connecting trusts 10 converging from the pontoon sides to a central point. 11 at the bottom of the fuselage, where they are in engagement therewith. The groove 12 in the bottom of the fuselage, housing the load or torpedo 13, is formed close up to the central longitudinal, and may be dropped by its supporting straps 14 down the side of the triangular strut formation to the side of the fuselage, for release there. The manually operable means for thus dropping the torpedo may comprise a drum 15 around which straps 14 are wrapped, said drum carried by a shaft 16 that also carries a sprocket 17, another sprocket 18 carried by a shaft 19, both shafts 16 and 19 suitably journalled, a chain 20 connecting said sprockets, and a crank 21 to operate shaft 19, thereby rotating drum 15 for paying out straps 14 until the torpedo reaches the po- 'sition indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 3,

when it can be released by usual means.

In order that the connection between the pontoon and fuselage may be reinforced at one side to .ofiset the torpedo weight at the other side, I employ diagonally disposed Struts 22 extended from the pontoon to the side of the fuselage other than the side having the grooves 12, thereby sturdily bracing the connection.

It will be apparent that in the form of my invention illustrated in Fig. 3 the load housing is closely adjacent the central lon itudinal line through the fuselage, there y still further reducing any tendency to overbalance.

In the example of my invention illustrated in Figs. 4, 5 and 6 the pontoon 23 is connected with fuselage 24 by the upwardly converging struts 25, but in this instance ivotal engagement, at 26 with the longitu 'nal centre of the fuse- .lage, at its under side, said pontoon thus being capable of swinging laterally to leave a clear vertical plane for the passage of torpedo 27 that is housed in a groove 28 formed alongside the pivotal axis for the struts.

Bracing struts are used in this form of my device, to give rigidity tothe pivotalstrut formation when the pontoon is used for flotation urposes, said bracing struts, however, bemg adjustable, to swing the pontoon out of its central vertical plane when the load is to be launched.

ends being interiorly threaded to engage .ried by the wing tions 31 have. sheaves 35 upon which ca les Said bracing struts therefore consist of the sleeve portions 29, ends whereof are pivoted, at 30, to the pontoon, their other screw portions 31 that have terminal ball heads 32, movably enga ing sockets 33 car- 34. 150 the screw or- 36 are wrapped, said cables passing over pulleys 37 and leading to suitable manipulable means (not shown) whereby the sheaves and screw portions can be rotated to contract or extend the bracing struts.

The strut portions 29 are reinforced by brace wires 38 and the strutportions 31 are reinforced by brace wires 39. -These wires 39 will be taut when the struts are extended, though they will slacken when said struts contract, as is obvious.

With the type of seaplane illustrated in Figs. 7 to .10, having the bi-plane wings 40,

ower plants 41 and 42 carried respectively fore and aft of nacelle 43 that is supported by struts 44 intermediate the upper wing, and wherein the pontoon 45 is included in the structure of the fuselage 46, it will be seen that the converging upper surfaces 47 of said pontoon co-act with the under surfaces 48 of the fuselage portion to provide pockets 49, closed by outwardly opening hinged flaps 50 and serving to contain the torpedoes or loads 51.

The torpedoes are held in their pockets each by straps 52 that are wrapped around drums 53 carried by a shaft 54, said shaft also carrying a gear 55 that meshes with a pinion 56, said pinion carried by a shaft 57 that is manipulable by a crank 58.

Now it will be appreciated that upon operating a crank 58 the torpedo at one or the other side of the pontoon can be allowed by gravity to slide out of its pocket to the entered in holes through the studs to secure said strap ends. Rods 64 connect the pins 63 respectively with oppositely extended arms 65' of a bell-crank, the ri ht angularly extended arm 66 of said bel crank bein provided with a connector 67 that leads to a position where it may be under manual controlfor withdrawing pins 63 to thereby release the torpedoes.

Variations within the spirit and scope of my invention are equally comprehended by the foregoing disclosure.

I claim: 1

1. The combination with a seaplane having a fuselage and a pontoon lying in the vertical plane thereof, of connecting means between said pontoon and fuselage comprising struts that converge to the longitudinal centre of said'fuselage, load launchin means comprising the provision of releasa 1e supsemen porting means at the under side of the fuse lage, at one side of and near the longitudinal centre thereof, and bracing means between the pontoon and the fuselage at the other side ofsaid longitudinal centre, to reinforce the structure.

2. The combination with a seaplane having a fuselage and a pontoon lylng in the a vertical plane thereof, of connecting means between said pontoon and fuselage comprising struts that converge to and pivotally engage the longitudinal centre of said fuselage, load launchin means comprising the provision of releasa le supporting means at the underside of the fuselage near the longitudinal centre thereof, and adjustable bracing means between the pontoon and one side of the seaplane permitting the pontoon to swing away from its centered position whereby the load may fall unobstructedly.

3. The combination with a seaplane having a fuselage and a pontoon included in the structure thereof, said pontoon having upper surfaces that converge, of pockets formed between said fuselage and pontoon surfaces, means for retaining torpedoes in said pockets, and means for lowering the torpedoes to points beyond the pontoon edges, prior to release thereof.

New York, Janua 20th, 1928.

VINCE T J. BURNELLI. 

